Justice secretary urged to put HMP Winchester to special measures

Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary, is facing demands from a watchdog to place another prison into emergency measures because of "very high levels of violence", drug problems and compromised security.

- Rajeev Syal

An inspection of HMP Winchester found serious assaults against staff were the highest of any reception prison in England and Wales, while nearly half of all prisoners said it was easy to get illicit drugs.

A letter sent to Mahmood by inspectors noted that the fabric of the category B jail was so poor that a prisoner was able to remove his cell door, while a third of all CCTV cameras did not work.

It is the second formal request this month from HM Inspectorate of Prisons for a formal ministerial intervention into a prison, and the ninth since November 2022.

The demand comes amid deepening concern that the Ministry of Justice could face spending cuts of up to 20% in Wednesday's budget despite an overcrowding crisis.

Ministers have been forced to release thousands of prisoners early since August due to a lack of capacity.

In the final paragraph of the letter to Mahmood, Martin Lomas, the deputy chief inspector, said correcting "systemic failings" at Winchester would require more money.